HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 I pray that everyone has a safe and happy new year.  We didn't do anything special here.  We had my in-laws over and my sister-in-law and niece and nephew and we just had some snack foods and then I have been trying to catch up on blogging the rest of the night.  Hopefully I can get back on track next week, not just with blogging but with a lot of things.  I hope and pray that I can eat better and exercise and lose some weight.  I hope and pray that I can spend more quality time with my kids and more time in prayer. 

Kenleigh has been in big girl panties all day today.  I am so proud of her.  I guess our pediatrician was right.  He says it should not be called potty training because it is not potty training, it is a choice and she chose today to go to the potty most of the day.  She had a few accidents but hey, at least she told when she needed to go.  See you guys next year. 

LORI

She is My Sunshine

This is just one of the reasons I get out of bed in the mornings.  She is my sunshine that is for sure.  Life gets hectic and this year has just flown by and I don't feel like I even had a Christmas because it just flew by.  I am blessed to have a at home job but I still don't feel like I get to spend enough time with my kids.  On this particular day, my niece was exempt from semester tests and she came to babysit for me.  My in-laws usually babysit but as you know my father-in-law is undergoing maintenance chemo and has various doctors appointments and so Kenleigh gets to stay home with me when they are not able to babysit and although some days it is a little tough trying to keep up with her plus do my job as a in-home medical transcriptionist, she sure keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing.  I thank God everyday for both of my kids.

 

Cinderella having some pizza!!

My niece Lacey and Kenleigh playing dress up.  This is their favorite thing to do.

One day as I was stepping out of the shower, this is what I found when I pulled the shower curtain back.  She is the sweetest thing.

This is a guitar shaped pillow with a blanket inside that Kaitlyn got for her birthday and I walked in to find Kenleigh playing the guitar.  Gotta love her!!

This was another day I had her.  She has her Dora backpack and her Dora umbrella.  

This was one of those days that she didn't get a nap and so when this happens she usually gets pretty cranky and then things will get real quiet and I will walk in and find her like this.  I am just thankful that God chose me to be the mother of this precious angel.

LORI

Kaitlyn Gets An Early Christmas Present

We let Kaitlyn open one Christmas gift one week prior to Christmas.  The reason you ask?  Well, Kaitlyn made a huge milestone in the Mitchell house.  She has always been scared to sleep in her bed by herself and I always have to wait until she falls asleep on the couch and then carry her to bed and at my age and her age and weight, this is not very easy.  Even though she has her sister as a bed partner, she still would rather be in my bed!!  Go figure.  Anyways, the night before we let her open this gift, she had went to her own bed without any trouble, got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and went back to her own bed!!  Way to go Kaitlyn.  I am so proud of you. This was a black Friday deal I got.  Project Runway Fashion Kit. 

LORI

We Will Miss Ms. Tommie Sue

Kaitlyn's Christmas party at school was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, December 18.  We found out the week before school let out that Ms. Tommie Sue, Kaitlyn's first grade teacher would be moving to kindergarten and Kaitlyn would be getting a new homeroom teacher, who she has already and she just loves, but we are going to miss Ms. Tommie Sue even though she will just be right across the hall from her.  So she can still keep an eye on her.  Here is Kaitlyn's class now with Ms. Tommie Sue, but they will all be split up between the other two classes.

Kenleigh got to go to Kaitlyn's party and she even got to sit in a seat and participate in the party.

Kaitlyn posing for a picture.

Kaitlyn with her BFF Abreanna.

Kenleigh with here sissy and all of sissy's BFF's.

Kaitlyn, Sienna and Breanna.

Ms. Amanda.  This is Breanna's mom and she led the kids in singing and she has a beautiful voice!!  

LORI

Kaitlyn's Choir Concert

Ok, I just thought I was caught up with my blogging.  I have made a list of what all I need to blog before the new year.  So, I may be up until midnight trying to catch up.  We have just been so busy and I only have one child in school so far.  I don't know what we will do when the other one starts to school and we don't play ball or do really any extracurricular activities.  So why cannot I find any time to do anything?

Kaitlyn had a Christmas Choir Concert before school let out for Christmas break on December 10.  I guess I don't have just the best camera in the world cause I couldn't get any good pictures of her singing.  They had the concert in the school gymnasium because there is just not enough room in the auditorium.  So I took a picture of Kaitlyn with some of her friends before the concert began.

My best friend Angela had asked me to take some pictures of her daughter and son because she forgot her picture.  This is Mary Elizabeth and her friend Mallory.  They are in kindergarten.

Here is one of the pictures I got.  This is Kaitlyn's first grade class.  She is on the back row in the blue shirt with her mouth wide open.  LOL!!  They sang 3 Christmas songs.  They did a great job. 

LORI

Christmas with my Dad and Brothers

Last stop my dads.  I think this post will catch me up and maybe I can get back into the swing of things.  I have not participated in any of my regular blog carnivals this week.  I am so busy, tired, etc., etc.!!!  I need a long winters nap, lol!!  I enjoyed the holidays and am so truly blessed but I am ready to get the tree down and get back into a routine.

This is me with my dad and brothers.

Kaitlyn and Kenleigh both got these adorable little purses from my aunt Pam and my daddy.

My daddy was not feeling well, but here he is with is new flannel that I got him.

Here is my brother Justin with his shirt from aunt Pam and daddy.

Here is my mom with her gifts from aunt Pam.

My brother Jason with his shirt.

My sister-in-law Jamie with her new watch and earrings.

Aunt Pam.

Here are Azlei and Kaleigh with their gifts.

Here are all the kids together.

Me with my brothers.  I was so excited to get to see them and my daddy at Christmas.  It sure was different without my grandma!!

LORI

Happy Birthday Jesus

Two weeks ago, which was the last night of AWANA until after the first of the year, we had a Happy Birthday Jesus party for our Sparkies and gave the kids gifts and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and they got to have a cupcake from this cupcake cake.  I was very please with what a wonderful job Walmart did on this.

Here are all my little Sparkies minus one, Dwayne.

Here are all my leaders with the kids.

LORI

Christmas Morning and Day

Kenleigh has been telling us for a few months now that she wanted the Handy Manny Work Bench for Christmas.  I really thought I would get a different response than what I got, but she was still excited and plays with it all the time.  It came with different projects.  Plus she got a Handy Manny motorcycle from Aunt Angela and Uncle Johnny, so I have all the "Handy Manny" stuff all together.

Here she is again. 

Kaitlyn got the Nintendo DS and has not put it down since she got it, lol!!

After seeing what Santa left, I had to make deviled eggs, rolls, green bean casserole and hot corn.  I was really getting stressed.  After this, it was time to head to my sister-in-law and brother-in-laws house for Christmas dinner.  

Ma came this year and we were so excited.  I know it was hard on her being her first Christmas without Pa.

Here she is with that DS again!!

My father-in-law Johnny and my husband, Kenny.

Here is my mother-in-law and my favorite nephew Johnathon playing his new Wi game of duck hunting.

Here is Kenleigh and my niece Lacey with her new iPod Touch.

Here is the hostess with the mostest!!  She made ham and dressing and lots of other stuff!!  Way to go Angela.

Here is my brother-in-law.  He deep fried a turkey!!  Yummy!!

LORI

Christmas Eve at Our House

Next and last stop for the day is home.  Whoosh, thank goodness.  By this time it is around 10 p.m. and we still have to open presents at our house and makes cookies/brownies for Santa.

Here is Kenleigh with her new baby doll that she ended up sleeping with that night.

 

Kaitlyn got a Old Navy Hoodie and then the girls helped make brownies for Santa.  Here is our plate of cookies/brownies and milk for Santa.  They both got a barbie a piece and a cuddle up blanket.  Here is Kenleigh with hers, it is tinkerbell and Kaitlyn got a Barbie one.  Kenleigh is ready and waiting for Santa.  Now, if I can get some rest, I will be doing good. 

LORI